Astronomers who had gathered in Dibrugarh in Assam witnessed the total eclipse between 6:31 am and 6:34 am

However, their counterparts in Taregna in Bihar, touted as the best location to watch the longest eclipse in a century were not so fortunate as clouds played spoilsport blanking out the early morning sun.

Image: The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in Varanasi, Uttar PradeshPhotographs: Jayanta Shaw

Thousands witness rare celestial spectacle

Several skywatchers watched the celestial spectacle from Nehru Planetarium where special arrangements were made. Projectors, telescopes and special solar view goggles were made available to the people who gathered to have a glimpse of the cosmic event.

Thousands witness rare celestial spectacle

"It is probably the first and last time I am seeing the eclipse. It feels great," he said.

Kolkata witnessed 91 per cent of the total solar eclipse despite a cloudy sky early morning. Incessant rains, however, proved to be a dampener with the people in Sikkim unable to watch the total eclipse.

Image: Local residents watch a solar eclipse on the peak of Malu Mountain in Liuzhou, ChinaPhotographs: China Daily/Reuters

Thousands witness rare celestial spectacle

But people in Haryana in the north got a chance to view the celestial spectacle. Pilgrims made a beeline to take bath in the holy sarovars in the state since last night. Tight security arrangements were made in view of the pilgrim rush.

People at several places in the desert state of Rajasthan were left disappointed as the eclipse was not visible from maximum places in the state following cloudy weather.

The eclipse was, however, seen clearly from Bikaner, Kota, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. Residents of the Pink city Jaipur got a glimpse of the eclipse at 06:32 am for one-and-half minute.

Image: Holy men pray on the banks of river Ganges during the start of a solar eclipse in Varanasi, Uttar PradeshPhotographs: Jayanta Shaw/Reuters

Thousands witness rare celestial spectacle

In the western part of the country, rains and clouds denied the celestial treat to avid sky watchers.

At the Katara hills in Bhopal, rains played spoilsport and the eclipse could not be seen although it was dark during the three-minute period. However, the eclipse was visible in Katni in Madhya Pradesh.

Image: A scientist takes a photo of the eclipse through a telescopePhotographs: Kham/Reuters